Frictional movement transmitting mechanism for straight knitting machines



C. F. MEYER Aug. 21, 1934.

FRICTIONAL MOVEMENT TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR: Lkrisfzkmfffleycz;

BY lflfiwgw ATTORNEY.

Filed March 5, 1934 Aug. 21, 1934. c F MEYER 1,971,316

FRICTIONAL MOVEMENT TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 3, 1934 2 Sheets-Shet 2 HX 4 BY 3 0 v I ATTOR EY.

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 FRICTIONAL MOVEMENT TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHI ES Christian F. Meyer, Wyomissing, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 3, 1934, Serial No. 713,792 14 Claims. "(01. 66-126) yarn guide fingers for laying the yarns in the ating speeds.

process of knitting.

For the most eflicient operation of this mechanism, it is. essential to maintain, within relatively close limits, an exact degree of smooth uniform frictional grip between the friction rod and the box, whereby the yarn carrier rods may be effectively and positively driven through the frictional connection. This connection must be such that, when a yarn carrier rod has reached the end of its determined travel, the friction rod may continue its movement, with smooth release and sliding coaction between the friction rod and the box, and, upon the return stroke of the thread carrier rod, the former firm frictional grip between the friction box and rod must again prevail.

To obtain maximum fabric production of the machine, it is essential that this friction mechanism perform its function precisely at all oper- The various elements and conditions detrimentally effecting the proper and most efficient operation thereof must, therefore, be eliminated or minimized, and to do this it becomes highly important to not only deal with such factors as accuracy of the fit between the parts, the materials utilized, proper lubrication, and coefiicient of friction, but also thermal characteristics, expansion and contraction of parts and conditions created by the generation of heat by-the frictional coaction of the parts.

With this in mind, one object of my invention is to provide a novel method of, and means for maintaining at highest operating efliciency, the friction mechanism of astraight or full fashioned knitting machine.

Another object is to provide straight or full faslii'oned knitting machines with novel frictional movement transmitting means adapted to permit increase in speed of operation and fabric production.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel frictional movement transmitting means in such machines adapted.- to more efllci ently and precisely perform its function than the prior art devices.

Another object is the provision of such frictional movement transmitting means adapted to maintain the operating temperature substantially uniform and unaffected by the heat generated by friction, and within the most efficient operating limits, thereby to avoid the detrimental effects resulting from variation in the operating temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which is simple and durable in con- 'struction, economical to manufacture and which may be directly embodied in a machine or provided in the form of an attachment.

In practicing my invention, a body or volume of a suitable fluid, for example, water, oil, etc., is subjected to automatic temperature and flow control, as by thermostatic and valve means,

wherebyits temperature and its rate of flow may be desirably controlled, this body being part of a closed circuit, preferably, altho, not necessarily, defined as alocal component of a particular machine. Part of the fluid circuit extending along the friction rod, preferably through it, the tem-- perature of the fluid is thereby effected by the temperature changes at the friction box position, or positions, since these machines may include one or a greater number of knitting units. The fluid being forced about its circuit, preferably at a rate determined by the rate of operation of the machine, the tendency to create a temperature differential between the local zones along the rod to be protected and the reserve body is substantially nullified, whereby the machine may be operated at any desired speed, and the friction gripping and sliding coaction between the friction rod and the friction box remain substantially uniform within the critical value required, and ready to so operate while idle.

With the above and other considerations in view the invention comprises the novel method, elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as set forth by the following detailed description of one illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:- I

Fig. 1 is a view, 'in rear elevation, of a fullfashioned knitting machine embodying'the invention, certain parts being broken away and others in section,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, taken substantially along the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partially in elevation and partially in section, taken substantially ,along the line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, certain parts being indicated in full lines, and others in broken lines; a control system and elements being indicated diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings, only the parts necessary to a full and complete understanding of the invention are therein shown, the various other parts and mechanisms, and the manner of operation thereof, being well known in the art, as shown and describedin detail, in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogue, copyright 1929, and published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania.

A base or support having end contour, indicated generally by broken lines in Fig. 5, includes usual end and intermediate frames 6, and beams '7 common to the units of a multiple unit machine.

A friction rod 8, which is one of the elements with which the invention is primarily concerned, also is common to the several machine units, and may be for any desired number. It extends parallel to the beams '7, and is longitudinally reciprocably mounted in suitable bearing brackets 8a.

Friction elements, or boxes, 9, which are other primary elements of the invention, see Figs. 1 and 4, each comprises a housing 10 having tubular ends surrounding the metal friction rod 8, be-

tween which ends, and between longitudinal side the housing 10,. and a bowed leaf spring 14 is dis-' posed along the outer side of the shoe 12 for flexure byacam handleelement 15. Friction pads 16, preferably in the form of leather strips, are disposed between the shoes 1l--1 2, and the rod 8. The strips, or rods, are preferably coated, on the adjacent sliding surface thereof, with a material which does not glaze the leather and which has' the necessary adhesive qualities for the proper operation of the boxes on the rod; a suitable material for this being castor oil, so that the undue adhesive characteristics of new castor oil are not present, and exact balance between proper slip and proper holding or adhering characteristics, is

obtained in accordance with the forces to be transmittedthrough the friction connection.

The housing 10 carries a slide 1'7, under the rod 8 at right angles thereto, and accentuated in position relative to the'housing by a spring-biased ball-detent device 18, whereby, through the manipulation of a handle 19, the slide may be selectively operatively connected to a dog 20 on any one of a plurality of carrier rods 21, which are supported by brackets 22, and cooperate with adjustable end stops 23 determining the limits of the longitudinal reciprocable movement of the rods 21.

- against the rod 8, as viewed in Fig. 4, the boxes 9 are reciprocated with the rod 8, when the latter is similarly moved by the coulier-movement mechanism; this movement of the boxes carrying the rods 21, through the slide 17 and the dog 20. The rods 21 carry thread carriers, not shown, so that the friction-grip connection between the leather strips 16 and the rod 8 must be suflicient to, at all times, resist the inertia of the boxes, the carrier rods and the thread carriers, to a very ac curate degree, and also, to slide relative to the rod 8, when movement of the rod 21 is arrested by the stops 23, and to again move with it, upon reverse movement of the rod 8, without sticking action, or in any other way failing to act with smoothness and precision.

The invention herein disclosed is an important factor in permitting substantial increase of speed of operation of the machine, up to approximately twice the speed of operation of such machines heretofore, since the accurately balanced friction-grip and sliding coaction between the rod 8 and the boxes 9 is retained in all of its original eifect, and to offset the tendency toward destructive friction efiects, such as breaking down the adhesive characteristics of the material between the box and .the rod, or of dissipating it, of scoring the rod; of destroying the leather pads and causing binding or freezing of the box to the rod, a fluid medium is forced toward and away from the rod and the box throughout the length of the rod variously occupied by the box. This result, altho obtainable in various ways, such as forming the rod with a longitudinal groove or channel, and of any desired cross-sectional contour for any suitable length, is preferably provided, as shown, by constructing the rod substantially as a tube having its wall thickness gauged within certain limits in accordance with the required strength of its mechanical function and the radiating area of its inner surface, in consideration of its conducting character, the kind of fluid employed, and the rate at which such selected fluid is forced through the system and subsequently cooled in accordance with the rate of operation of the machine and the heat generated.

To supply fluid to the rod and box, or boxes, from a stationary source 2'7 of fluid supply, such as a reservoir, to compensate for the relative movement of the parts and maintain an eflicient closed system, conduit terminals 28 and 29 on the rod and similar terminals 30 and 31 associated with the source 27 are connected by flexible conduits 32 and 33, respectively, these conduits being chosen to maintain thecircuit of the fluid closed, as might also sliding connections.

The fluid circuit may further comprise a strainer 34 at what may be considered a starting position of the fluid flow in the reservoir 2'7, a conduit 35 leading to the terminal 30, adjacent to which a pump 36 is disposed, a stationary return conduit 37, a radiator 38, and a short conduit 39 extending from the radiator back into the reservoir. Cooling means, such as an electric fan 40 may be provided for the radiator 38, and heating means, such as a resistor 41 may be provided in the reservoir 27 or at any other suitable position in the fluid circuit.

The pump 36, indicated as of the gear-type, may be suitably mounted, ason one of the beams 7 by a bracket 42, and driven by motive means, such as the machine cam shaft 43 acting through a pulley 44 fixed thereto, a belt 45, and a pulley 46 on a shaft 47 of the pump. An idling roller 48 may be suitably mounted, as on the bracket 42, for positioning the belt clear of the beam '7 or An electric circuit for the resistor 41 and the motor of the fan 40 may comprise a source of electro-motive force represented by supply conductors 49, amain switch 50, and service-circuit conductors 51. The resistor is operatively connected to the conductors 51 through a direct conductor 52 and a conductor 53 includinga relay switch-54. The motor of fan 40'is operatively connected to the conductors 51, through a direct conductor 55 and a conductor 56 including a relay switch 57.

An automatic control switch or relay comprises adjustable stationary contact members 58 and 59, and a movable contact member 60 therebetween, the latter of which is directly connected to one of the conductors 51. The contact member 58 is connected to the other conductor 51, through an actuating coil 61 for the fan or radiator relay switch 57. The contact member 59 is also connected to said other conductor 51, and through an actuating coil 62 for the switch 54 controlling energization of the resistor 41.

Operating means for the automatically-controlled relay contact member 60 may comprise a sylphon bellows 63 that is connected, by a tube or conduit 64, to a bulb 65 immersed in the fluid in the reservoir 27, and, similarly to a thermometer, containing an incompressible fluid, for example, mercury, alcohol or ether, that is responsive to temperature changes for actuating the bellows. This thermostat operates, at a critical temperature value, or range of values, to maintain the contact member 60 in its neutral or inactive position, in which instance, neither the fan motor nor the resistor is energized. Upon departure from such value upwardly, the bulb and bellows operate to move the contact member 60 against the contact member 58, thus energizing the relay coil 61. closing the switch 57 and operating the fan 40; this operation reducing the temperature of the fluid in the radiator 38 as it is returned to the reservoir, lowering the temperature of the bulk of the fluid in the reservoir, receiving the operation of the thermostat, disengaging the contact member 60 from the contact member 58, deenergizing the relay coil 61, opening the switch 57, and stopping the fan 40.

Similarly, if and when the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir is reduced below the desired value, the thermostat actuates the contact member 60 to engage the stationary contact member 59, actuate the relay coil 62, close the switch 54, and energize the resistor 41, and when the critical reservoir fluid temperature is reestablished, to disengage the contact member 60 from the contact member 59, interrupt the circuit of the coil 62, and to open the circuit of the resistor.

Obviously, a separate motor may be substituted for the shaft 43 as the pump-driving means, in which case the thermostat and its associated electric control system may be utilized to control the operation and speed of the motor and the pump, or to operate suitable valves whereby to regulate the flow independently of the rate of operation of the pump.

The above-described cycle of operation will be automatically repeated as often as required by the condition of the friction rod 8 at its sections opposite the paths of travel of the friction boxes whereby to maintain substantially uniform the grippingand sliding coaction between the boxes and the rod, and may be affected by attendant conditions, such as ambient temperature, whereby, as in the summer season, the resistor 41 may remain deenergized for long periods of time,

while the fan is intermittently operated over varying cycles.

A feature of economy, and one of no inconsiderable value in certain locations, resides in the repeated use of the same fluid.

A feature of convenience, which also saves labor, resides in the preconditioning of the machine in the winter season, by bringing the parts to proper operating condition before starting the machine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the advantages of my invention are mainly obtained by maintaining substantially uniform the gripping and sliding coaction between the friction rod and box, irrespective of the speed of operation, by controlling and limiting,the temperature thereof in the manner set forth. Of course, the novel method and means for accomplishing this, as specifically shown and described can be changed and modified in various ways without for maintaining substantially constant the temperature of the fluid.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction member and a cooperating fric tion element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and to the pump 'in a closed circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, and means responsive to operation of the element on the hollow member for raising and lowering the temperature of the fluid in accordance with the heat of friction generated between the member and the element.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction memberand a cooperating friction element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and the pump in a closed circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, and means controlled by the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir for raising said temperature if below a predetermined value and lowering the same if above a predetermined value.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction member and cooperating friction element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and to the pump in a closed circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, means for heating the fluid, means for cooling the fluid, and a thermostat in the reservoir for automatically controlling the heating and cooling means in accordance with the heat of friction between the'member and the element.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction member and a cooperating friction element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and to the pump in a closed'circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, an electro-responsive heating device, an electro-responsive cooling device, and a thermostatic switch for controlling the operation of said devices.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction member, and a cooperating friction element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and to the pump in a closed circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, an electro-responsive heating device, an electro-responsive cooling device, a thermostatic switch for controlling the operation of said devices, and means for adjusting the switch to operate at different temperature values.

7. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction member, and a. cooperating friction element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and to the pump to establish a closed circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, means for actuating the pump, electric heating means, electric cooling means, two electro-responsive switches respectively operable to control the circuits of said heating and cooling means, and a thermostatic switch operable to close either of the electro-responsive switches.

8. In a knitting machine, the combination with a hollow friction member, and a cooperating friction element, of a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said member to the reservoir and to the pump in a closed circuit for forcing a fluid through said member, means for actuating the pump, electro-responsive heating means, electro-responsive cooling means, electro-responsive switches operable, respectively, to control the circuits of said heating and cooling means, and means including a thermostat responsive to temperature change of the fluid and adjustable to operate a switch within any one of predetermined temperature ranges, the latter switch controlling operation of the electro-responsive switches.

9. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a hollow friction rod, a friction box, a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting the rod to the reservoir and to the pump in a closed system for forcing a fluid through said rod, means for heating the fluid, means for cooling the fluid, and means controlled by the temperature of the fluid for operating the heating and the cooling means to maintain the temperature of the fluid substantially constant.

10. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a hollow friction rod, a friction box, a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said rod to the reservoir and 'to the pump in a closed system for forcing a fluid through said rod, an electro-responsive heating element within said system, an electro-responsive cooling element operatively adjacent to said system, a switch common to said heatin and cooling elements, and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the fluid to operate said switch.

11. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a hollow friction rod, a friction box, a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said rod to the reservoir and to the pump in a closed system for forcing a fluid through said rod, an electro-responsive switch controlled heating element within the reservoir, an electroresponsive switch controlled fan operatively adjacent to the cooling element, a circuit including a thermostatic switch between the heatin element switch and the fan switch, and means responsive to the temperature of the liquid controlling the' thermostatic switch to operate the heating element switch and the fan switch.

12. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a hollow friction rod, a friction box, a reservoir, a pump, conduit means connecting said rod to the reservoir and to the pump for circulating a fluid through said rod, an electro-responsive heating element within said reservoir, electro-responsive cooling means operatively adjacent to said reservoir, and a thermostatic switch responsive to the temperature of the fluid foroperating the heating element and the cooling means.

13. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a hollow friction rod, a reservoir, a radiator, a pump, conduit means connecting the rod and the reservoir to the radiator and to the pump for circulating a fluid through said rod, an electro-responsive heating element within the reservoir, an electric fan operatively adjacent to the radiator, a fluid controlled thermostat, an adjustable switch operated by thethermostat and operable to energize the heating element and to actuate the fan.

14. In a knitting machine, a friction rod, a friction box, means for longitudinally reciprocating the rod and reciprocating the box with the rod 9. less distance causing it to slide on the rod, means effecting uniform gripping and sliding coaction between the box and the rod, comprising a fluid medium and means including a thermal device automatically responsive to a predetermined change in the temperature of the rod for controlling the temperature of said fluid medium to effect said coaction.

CHRISTIAN F. MEYER. 

